The kona hema preserve protects an ancient KOA-ohia forest along the southwest flank of mauna LOA volcano on the island of hawaii

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) was awarded a $924,000 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife federal grant program (CFDA 15.631) to replace 17.5 miles of perimeter fencing at the 8,073-acre Kona Hema Preserve on Hawaii's Big Island. The project, taking place from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2027, will ensure the continued protection of native upland forests at the preserve that provide freshwater and erosion control benefits to approximately 25,000 residents of South Kona. Key deliverables include brush removal along the existing fence line and replacement of woven wire fencing by TNC staff, contractors, interns and volunteers to prevent the reentry of invasive feral ungulates. The funding will also support one new full-time field technician position at TNC and additional internship opportunities while benefiting the local fencing industry.

The preserve forms a core piece of critically important conservation areas that include private lands, state natural area reserves, and hawaii volcanoes national park. The nature conservancy has managed the area since 2000 with emphasis on fencing, removing feral hoofed animals, controlling invasive plant populations, and managing the threat of wildfire. Today, the preserve is the largest contiguous area of priority watershed native forest in the south kona region that is free of the threat of feral hoofed animals. This project will ensure the continued protection of 8,073 acres of native upland forest by replacing 17.5 miles of perimeter fencing at kona hema preserve. This work involves brush removal along the existing fence line followed by removal, disposal and replacement of woven wire fence by staff, contractors, interns and volunteers. Each 330-foot section of woven wire will be removed from existing fence posts and new wire will be installed on the same day to ensure that nonnative animals including pigs, goats and sheep do not enter the preserve. Project funding will support local fence contractors, a new full-time field technician position at the nature conservancy and additional internship opportunities. IT is expected that replacement of the full 17.5 miles of perimeter fence will take between two-to-five years to complete at a total cost of 924,000. This project will benefit approximately 25,000 people in south kona who rely on these forests for fresh water and erosion control and ensure continued protection of native flora and fauna that depend on healthy KOA-ohia forests in the kona forest belt. Watershed conservation activities at kona hema protect an estimated 6.168 billion gallons of freshwater yield from the time of fence establishment until 2065, and taking into account costs, 383 gallons of freshwater are protected for every dollar spent at kona hema.